A study of prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in puerperium: spontaneous variations and the effect of metergoline.
In 80 normal puerperae, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG/LH), and prolactin (PRL) levels were evaluated 6 to 29 hours after vaginal delivery. In these puerperae, PRL levels were higher and FSH levels were lower than in menstruating women; hCG/LH levels were very high, due to persisting hCG levels. The values of the three hormones showed a log-normal distribution, and no relationship was found between the three hormones considered in pairs. Thirty-six puerperae chosen from the above 80 were followed during a 5-day period: 24 were not able to breast-feed their babies and were treated with metergoline, an antiserotoninergic agent able to prevent puerperal lactation, 8 or 12 mg/day; 12 additional puerperae, nursing their babies, were evaluated as controls. In lactating women PRL and FSH levels remained steady during the observation period, while hCG/LH levels progressively decreased. Metergoline lowered PRL levels, when employed at both dosages, and FSH levels only at the higher dosage, without affecting the decline of hCG/LH levels. Since dopaminergic drugs are known to lower serum LH levels and not to affect or to increase FSH levels, our data indicate that metergoline might act through a mechanism of action different from dopaminergic drugs.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008711:Metergoline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004873:Ergolines; D008711:Metergoline; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone